Do you really want to be a lawyer? Deborah Schneider, J.D.,
wants you to consider this before taking on the financial burden of
enrolling in law school.

Schneider and co-author Gary Belsky, executive editor of ESPN,
The Magazine, put together the book “Should You Really Be A
Lawyer?” to help students analyze their choices before enrolling in
law school. Schneider, who was speaking to students at the Saint
Louis University bookstore on Thursday, Oct. 21, said that her
choice to never go into practice contributed to her decision to
help other students.

“I felt strongly about writing this book. Nothing like this has
ever been written. We need to get the message out. Law school is
not cheap,” Schneider said. She added, “I would rather someone
spend $20 on this book before they decide to spend $80,000 on law
school.”

Schneider, who received her law degree from Washington
University, said the book will help prospective law students,
current law students and graduates decide what to do with their
degree and if it is worth the time and money.

Schneider herself has never gone in to practice. She served as
the head of career development at the University of California
Hastings College of Law. Currently, she gives seminars on career
decision-making.

“Half of all lawyers have said they could leave their profession
if they could afford it. There don’t have to be as many unhappy
lawyers as there are.” Schneider said. She hopes the book will
provide a necessary resource in helping unsatisfied lawyers find
the career that will make them happy. “Many law students don’t
think through their decisions. Many do not even speak to an
attorney before going to law school.”

The books website, www.shouldyoureally.com, says the book will
provide some of the best and most inexpensive legal advice one can
get.